Collapsible umbrella with retractable fastening means

ABSTRACT

An umbrella having a collapsible canopy and elongated handle. The canopy is made of transparent material and is sufficiently large enough to cover at least the head and shoulders of a human being. In one embodiment, the top portion of the canopy is opaque so as to function as a sun shield. In another embodiment, the canopy is large enough to extend down almost to the waist of an individual using the umbrella. The umbrella handle has two spaced-apart reels journaled in the handle for rotation. A pair of straps is wrapped on each reel. The reels are biased such that the straps are stored in the handle when not in use. The straps may be extended and wrapped around a person&#39;&#39;s waist and trunk such that the umbrella can be worn, if desired. When the umbrella is worn, the hands are free to carry packages and the like.

United States Patent [191 Warfield [451 .iui 11, 1975 1 COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA WITH RETRACTABLE FASTENING MEANS James R. Warfield, 242- /2 Suttenfield, Fort Wayne, Ind. 46806 [22] Filed: Mar. 8, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 450,078

[76] Inventor:

[52] [1.5. CI 135/20 R; 135/5 C; 135/47; 224/51 [51] Int. Cl A45b 11/02 [58] Field of Search 135/5 C, 5 D, 7.1 B, 20 R, 135/47; 224/5.l; 2/321, 336; 242/l07.1, 107.11, 107.13; 119/109, 124

Primary ExaminerRichard .1. Scanlan, Jr. Assistant ExaminerConrad L. Berrnan 5 7 ABSTRACT An umbrella having a collapsible canopy and elongated handle. The canopy is made of transparent material and is sufficiently large enough to cover at least the head and shoulders of a human being. In one embodiment, the top portion of the canopy is opaque so as to function as a sun shield. In another embodiment, the canopy is large enough to extend down almost to the waist of an individual using the umbrella. The umbrella handle has two spaced-apart reels journaled in the handle for rotation. A pair of straps is wrapped on each reel. The reels are biased such that the straps are stored in the handle when not in use. The straps may be extended and wrapped around a persons waist and trunk such that the umbrella can be worn, if desired. When the umbrella is worn, the hands are free to carry packages and the like.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures COIJIJAPSIBLE UMBRELLA WITH RETRACTABLE FASTENING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an umbrella, and more particularly to an umbrella which can be worn by a person using the same.

2. Description of the Prior Art Umbrellas have long been in use by persons desiring to shield themselves from the sun and rain. Conventionally, umbrellas are hand carried by the person using the umbrella. Carrying an umbrella, however, does not allow the free use ofa persons hands to carry packages and the like. It is therefore desirable to provide an improved umbrella that will allow a person using the umbrella to use their hands without being encumbered by the umbrella.

While umbrellas have heretofore been strapped to the back of a person, they are difficult to attach and the harnesses used are clumsy, and not very attractive. Further, such harnesses must be detached if the umbrella is to be hand-held, as is conventional. It is therefore de sirable to provide an umbrella which can be worn, if desired, but which includes structure which allows the umbrella to be worn or hand-held, as desired, while still being attractive and convenient to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an improved umbrella structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved umbrella structure which can be worn by the person using the umbrella.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved umbrella structure which can be hand-held or worn by the person using the umbrella, as desired, and yet is convenient to use.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved umbrella structure which can be worn by the person using the umbrella, the umbrella being of transparent material and large enough to cover the head, shoulders and upper trunk portion of the person wearing the umbrella to provide maximum protection and yet not hamper the persons vision.

Still further, an object of this invention is to provide an umbrella having structure which meets all of the objects above-mentioned, and still is attractive, functional, simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and convenient to use.

In the broader aspects of this invention there is provided an umbrella having a collapsible canopy and an elongated handle. A pair of reels are journaled for rotation in the handle on which are stored a pair of straps. Each reel is biased so as to wrap the straps around the reel and store the straps within the handle of the umbrella. With the straps so enclosed in the handle, the umbrella can be hand-held as is conventional. If desired, the straps can be pulled from the handle and se cured about the trunk of a person and worn, thereby freeing the arms to carry boxes and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

FIG. I is a side view of the improved umbrella of the invention shown as worn by a person, the person being illustrated in dashed lines;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the umbrella of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the handle portion including one of the strap retractors of the improved umbrella of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary and exploded view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the handle portion illustrated in FIG. 3 taken substantially along the section line 55;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the handle portion illustrated in FIG. 3 taken substantially along the section line 6-6;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the handle portion illustrated in FIG. 3 taken substantially along the section line 77; and

FIG. 8 is a view of the distal end portions of the straps attached to one of the strap retractors of the improved umbrella of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is shown the improved umbrella III of this invention. Umbrella I6 has a canopy I2 and a handle I4. The canopy I2 has a top portion I6 and side portions I8. The handle I4 is connected to the canopy I2 at the center 26 of the top por tion I6 of the canopy I2. The handle I4 depends from the center 20; the canopy I2 surrounds the handle I4 as shown in FIG. I. Also depending fromv the center 20 are a plurality of ribs 22. The ribs 22 are connected to a slide mechanism 24 by means of a plurality of support elements 26.

The canopy I2 is shown in the embodiment illustrated to extend over the head and upper trunk portion of a human being wearing the umbrella. Side portions I8 are spaced from the handle I4 a sufficient distance and canopy I2 has a sufficient height dimension to pro vide enough room to cover the entire trunk of a human being. The canopy I2 is shown to be made of transparent material. The top portion I6 of the canopy I2 from the center 20 to the boundary line 28, in a specific embodiment, may be tinted or of opaque material, as the case may be. In these embodiments, top portion I6 will shade the sun from the user of the umbrella and may be decorative in specific embodiments.

The handle I4 has a distal end 34). Adjacent to distal end 30 are located a pair of identical strap retractors 32. Strap retractors 32 are identical; a description of one will suffice for the other.

Now referring to FIGS. 3, 4, S, 6 and 7, the strap retractors 32 will be described in detail. Each of the strap retractors 32 have a reel 34 on which a pair of straps 36 and 38 are attached. Reel 34 consists of an elongated shaft or spindle 40 which has opposite ends 42 and 44. Secured to the spindle 46 adjacent each opposite end 42 and 44 is a flange 46. Flanges 46 are spaced apart a distance sufficient to allow straps 36 and 38 to be attached to the spindle 4t) therebetween. The diameter of flanges 46 need only be large enough to accommodate both straps 36 and 38 on the spindle 46 in a wrapped condition; and thus, the diameter of the 3 flanges 46 is preferred tob'e only slightly greater than the thickness of straps 36 and 38 in a wrapped condition on spindle 40. I

Spindle ends 42 and 44 are positioned in bearings 48. Bearings 48 allow the reel 34 to rotate freely therein. Bearings 48 are supported in the handle 14 inthe bearing recesses 50. Bearing recesses 50 are formed in the handle 14 coaxially thereof; there being a bearing recess 50 for each of the bearings 48. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, recesses 50 pertaining to the strap retractor 32 face each other.

An elongated sleeve 52 is provided. Sleeve 52 is hollow and tubular in shape. A pair of slots 54 are provided in sleeve 52. Slots 54 are'elongated and run longitudinally of the sleeve 52. Sleeve 52 is hollow and has an interior large enough to accommodate reel 34 therein. Sleeve 52 has opposite ends 56, 58 which are connected to the handle 14 adjacent to the bearing recesses 50 by means of a boss 60. Bosses 60 are'sized and shaped to fit ends 56, 58 of sleeve 52. The transverse dimensions of boss 60 are substantially the same as corresponding dimensions of the interior of sleeve 52. The exterior dimensions of sleeve 52 adjacent each boss 60 is substantially the same as the corresponding dimensions of handle 14 adjacent to boss 60. The length of the sleeve 52 is substantially the length of the reel 34 such that the sleeve 52 can be connected to the handle 14 by means of the bosses 60 and at the same time the ends 42 and 44 of the spindle 40 can be positioned in the bearings 48 and the bearings 48 can be positioned in the bearing recesses 50.

One of the bosses 60 of each of the retractor assemblies 32 also has a spring recess 62.formed. therein. Spring recess 62 surrounds the bearing recess 50 and is annular in shape. Extending from the spring recess 62 is a detent hole 64. A detent hole 66 similar to detent hole 64 is provided in the flange 46 of the reel 34 which is most adjacent the spring recess 62. In the spring recess 62 there is provided a coil spring 67 which has opposite ends 68 and 70 which extend from the spring 67 axially thereof. Ends 68 and 70 respectively are positioned in detent holes 64 and 66 when spring 67 is positioned in spring recess 62 and the reel 34, the sleeve 52, and the handle 14 are assembled as shown in FIG. 3.

As best shown in FIG. 8, straps 36 and 38 areeach provided with enlarged ends 74 connected to the distal ends thereof. Ends 74 are substantially larger in at least one dimension than the slots 54 in, the sleeve 52. Ends 74 prevent the straps 36 and 38 from completely passing through the slots 54. Thus, ends74 are always exterior of the sleeve 52 and can be grasped to pull the straps 36, 38 from the reel, 34, when desired. Also secured to the straps 36 and 38 adjacent their distal ends is a strip of Velcro material. By means of the two strips of Velcro material 76, the straps 38 and 36 can be joined as shown in FIG. 1.

In operation, the improved umbrella of the invention can be hand-held and used as is conventional. The improved umbrella has a canopy 12 which completely covers the head, shoulders and upper trunk portions of the person using the umbrella to give that person added protection from the elements. Additionally, in a spea persons vision is not 'impaired by using the umbrella 10.

The improved umbrella of the invention can also be worn thereby freeingjhe hands to carry books, packages and the like. If this is desirable, the straps 36 and 38 are extracted from the handle. 14 by grasping strap ends 74 and pulling the straps therefrom. One strap can encircle the waist and be secured by means of the Velcro material adjacent the distal ends thereof. The other strap can be caused to encircle'the chest under the arms and similarly fastened. ln this manner, the umbrella meets all of the objects above-mentioned.

Still further, the improved umbrella 10 of this invention is equipped with strap retractors such that when the umbrella 10 is through being worn, the straps 36 and 38 can 'be retracted into the handle 14 and the umbrella can be collapsedand carried with'little more difficulty than a conventional umbrella. The strap retractors are simple in construction, easy to operate and inexpensive to manufacture. In a specific embodiment, all of the elements of the strap retractors abovedescribed, except for the spring 67, can be mass produced out of plastic material. By such construction, the umbrella 10 of the invention can be manufactured and sold competitively with conventional umbrellas. While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and notas a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: I

1. An umbrella comprising a canopy, an elongated handle connected to the canopy, said canopy having top and side portions, said canopy being collapsible from an expanded position in which saidcanopy side portions surround said handle and the head and shoulders of a person usingthe umbrella into a collapsed position in which said canopy overlays said handle, a pair of reels joumaled for rotation in'said handle, saidreels being spaced apart, a pair of flexible straps connected to and wrapped on each of said reels, each of said straps having a distal end, means on said straps adjacent their distal ends for removably securing said pair together, and means for urging said reels to rotate and wrap said straps thereon. v V

2. The umbrella of claim 1 wherein each of said reels includes a spindle having opposite ends, bearing means connected to said handle, said spindle ends being held by said bearing means. I j

3. The umbrella of claim 2 wherein each of said reels includes a pair of spaced apart flanges, said flanges being secured to said spindle adjacent to and spaced from said ends, respectively, said flanges being larger in at least one diametrical dimension than said pair of straps when wrapped on said spindle. I

4. The umbrella of claim 1 wherein said handle includes a pair of sleeves each sleeve having opposite ends and a hollow interior, said reels being positioned within .said sleeves respectively,.the opposite ends of said sleeves being connected to said handle respectively, said sleeve having spaced slots therein, said straps being positioned in said slots, respectively.

5. The umbrella of claim 4 further comprising means on said 'strap s adjacent to said distal. ends thereof for preventing sa id' dis'tal ends from ,passing through said slots.

9. The umbrella of claim 7 wherein one of said straps encircles the waist of said person, another of said straps encircles said human above said waist, and said canopy is large enough to allow arm movement by said person therein.

10. The umbrella of claim 3 wherein said urging means includes a coil spring one end of which is secured to one of said flanges, the other end of said spring 

1. An umbrella comprising a canopy, an elongated handle connected to the canopy, said canopy having top and side portions, said canopy being collapsible from an expanded position in which said canopy side portions surround said handle and the head and shoulders of a person using the umbrella into a collapsed position in which said canopy overlays said handle, a pair of reels journaled for rotation in said handle, said reels being spaced apart, a pair of flexible straps connected to and wrapped on each of said reels, each of said straps having a distal end, means on said straps adjacent their distal ends for removably securing said pair together, and means for urging said reels to rotate and wrap said straps thereon.
 2. The umbrella of claim 1 wherein each of said reels includes a spindle having opposite ends, bearing means connected to said handle, said spindle ends being held by said bearing means.
 3. The umbrella of claim 2 wherein each of said reels includes a pair of spaced apart flanges, said flanges being secured to said spindle adjacent to and spaced from said ends, respectively, said flanges being larger in at least one diametrical dimension than said pair of straps when wrapped on said spindle.
 4. The umbrella of claim 1 wherein said handle includes a pair of sleeves, each sleeve having opposite ends and a hollow interior, said reels being positioned within said sleeves respectively, the opposite ends of said sleeves being connected to said handle respectively, said sleeve having spaced slots therein, said straps being positioned in said slots, respectively.
 5. The umbrella of claim 4 further comprising means on said straps adjacent to said distal ends thereof for preventing said distal ends from passing through said slots.
 6. The umbrella of claim 5 wherein said securing means includes patches of Velcro material connected to said straps adjacent to said distal ends thereof.
 7. The umbrella of claim 5 wherein said canopy is made of a transparent material, said canopy being large enough and said reels and straps being positioned such that said handle can be strapped onto the trunk of a person by said straps with said canopy being over the head and surrounding upper trunk of said human.
 8. The umbrella of claim 7 wherein said canopy has a top portion thereof which is opaque.
 9. The umbrella of claim 7 wherein one of said straps encircles the waist of said person, another of said straps encircles said human above said waist, and said canopy is large enough to allow arm movement by said person therein.
 10. The umbrella of claim 3 wherein said urging means includes a coil spring one end of which is secured to one of said flanges, the other end of said spring is secured to said handle. 